After a dramatic T20I series, India now take on England in the three-match ODI series scheduled to begin on 23 March. This is the last leg of the ongoing tour and England, having lost both the Tests and T20Is, will be keen to end the tour on a high. India, on the other hand, will want to continue with the good run.
The Indian selectors added a few Vijay Hazare Trophy stars including Krunal Pandya and Prasidh Krishna, though the exclusion of Prithvi Shaw, the star of the tournament, has raised a few eyebrows. With 18 T20Is under his belt, Krunal has already had the taste of international cricket, while Krishna is uncapped at this level.
The third uncapped ODI player of the squad, Suryakumar Yadav, became an overnight sensation with his two blitzes in the T20I series. However, he will face competition at the top to get featured in the playing XI. Virat Kohli has already confirmed Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan as openers, while Kohli himself will bat at three.
That leaves three slots open, at least one of whom has to be KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant. Rahul was India’s designated wicketkeeper even in their last ODI series, in Australia, but his lack of form, coupled with Pant’s steady rise, may tilt the battle in the latter’s favour. However, if both play alongside Shreyas Iyer, Yadav may miss out. All this, of course, will depend on how many overs Hardik Pandya will bowl.
Kohli was in fabulous form in the T20I series. It has been two years since he last scored an ODI hundred, but now, given his touch, his fans may count on him to get his 44th hundred here, especially since he had scored a century in the last ODI India had played at the same venue.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar will lead the bowling attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. accompanied by one or both of Shardul Thakur and T Natarajan. India are likely to leave out one of Yuzvendra Chahal or Kuldeep Yadav to draft in bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar.
For England, the absence of Jofra Archer will be a big blow. They have also rested Joe Root. In Archer’s absence, Mark Wood will lead the attack and will continue to trouble the Indians with pace. The other seamers include Reece Topley and the Curran brothers, Tom and Sam. Ben Stokes will provide the all-around option, while Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali, in that order, are the two spinners.
With all three of Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow (who will partner Jason Roy), and Sam Billings likely to feature, England seem set to go in with three wicketkeepers. At some stage in this series, the England team management is also expected to hand a cap to Liam Livingstone.
Key players
Virat Kohli (India): Kohli smashed 231 runs in the T20I series and ended as the highest run-scorer. He will love to continue the dominance in the 50-over format as well. The main batsman for India in the middle order must click especially in case of chase for the hosts.
Jos Buttler (England): Buttler has scored three out five fastest ODI centuries by English players. With his destructive hitting, he can change the course of the game at any point of time.
Likely XIs
India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, T Natarajan.
England: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Ben Stokes, Eoin Morgan (capt), Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Billings (wk), Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley, Mark Wood.